The founder of a charity that aims to combat knife crime is standing for election as the MP for Clacton.

Caroline Shearer, 52, has confirmed she will be running as an independent candidate for the constituency in the upcoming General Election on June 8.

Caroline is currently CEO of Only Cowards Carry , an awareness charity that she founded after her 17-year-old son, Jay Whiston, was fatally stabbed in September 2012.

"I started the charity when my son was murdered and now I'm ready to step down and move on, it's something I've been thinking about for a year," said Caroline.

"I'm local , I know the area and a lot of people have asked me to stand because I can act as a voice for them - I will be the voice for local people."

Caroline's son, Jay Whiston, died in 2012

When asked why people should vote for an independent candidate, she said: "Rather than wasting votes by backing Conservative or Labour, whose MPs have to toe the political line, voting for an independent means things can get done because we don't have to toe a political line.

"People here don't want to be lumped with the majority, they aren't part of the majority, they're special."